Winter Talent Showcase Collaboration

Melissa Durant & Dancing Pines Distillery

Day three of Winter Talent Showcase week is among us and today we are highlighting the collaboration between Green Russell’s Melissa Durant and Dancing Pines Distillery. Melissa was selected by Dancing Pines to collaborate on their showcase cocktails for her level achievement in creativity in flavor.As artisanal small batch distilled spirits is their passion, they felt that Melissa would be able to achieve that same creativity with the variety of products they have to work with.

Dancing Pines gave Melissa an artistic freedom for their cocktails, but it wouldn’t be off to assume that Bitter Bar’s Justin Lavenue, who also serves as a Dancing Pines representative had a say in the mix. For their collaboration, they are calling for three of the ten products that have currently been released: Chai Liqueur, Gin, and Bourbon. Dancing Pines’ Chai Liqueur is one of their leading sellers, especially since accolades include a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. They have reached this achievement by crafting the liqueur as an authentic chai tea balanced by whole leaf black tea and spices.

The Dancing PinesGin is the first of their artisan clear spirits to be released and they ensure that this formula will be a dry, aromatic, and refreshing experience. They balance this formula with 6 botanicals and herbs that each contributes a significant amount of character to the final product.

Their Bourbon is a spirit crafted for the modern American that enjoys sipping a local legend. From grains of corn, rye, and malted barley, Dancing Pines has created the perfect blend of ingredients, time, and love. The bourbon whiskey is double pot distilled and aged in small American White Oak casks to bring out a smooth character with their signature golden color.

Melissa and Dancing Pines Distillery will be boasting flavors on Monday night that are going to be sure to open your eyes to the quality they are bringing to Colorado. Melissa is usually found behind the bar at the Green Russell and invites you for a cocktail if you cannot wait until Monday. The Dancing Pines facility sits in Loveland, Colorado where they conduct tours and tastings on Fridays and Saturdays. We recommend stopping in; they have got a lot to see and taste, but you can always do that at the Winter Talent Showcase as well.

Kyle is the Chief Editor and Founder of Industry Denver. He maintains a healthy diet of festival food and cocktail samples, speaks with that southern Californian drawl and likes to eat, drink, and tip well.